RAF jets in near miss with small civilian aircraft

Crew said two Hawk T2 jets from RAF Valley, such as the ones pictured above, were about 150ft above the aircraft and approximately 100ft to its side

Two RAF jets narrowly missed a small, civilian aircraft, according to a new investigators' report.

The two Hawk Jet pilots from RAF Valley on Anglesey were within two miles of an unidentified C42 microlight aircraft when they were told of its presence, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) report said.

They started a gentle turn to the south, spotted the two-seater and passed above and in front of it, the report said.

The report added that crew estimated the jets were 150ft (46m) above the aircraft and approximately 100ft (30m) to its side during the incident in January.

Low cloud on the day meant the two RAF jets could not increase their height to 2500ft over the Menai Strait following a low level exit as the RAF Valley Flying Order Book recommends, according to the report.

Air traffic control contacted Caernarfon Aerodrome to enquire who was operating the aircraft in question, and were told it was not local to Caernarfon.

The report said the unidentified pilot had not been in communication with Valley air traffic control or Caernarfon airport air traffic control.

"It is likely that if even one of the above was different, the (incident) would have been more distant and the probability of a collision reduced substantially further," the report said.

The report said the civilian pilot "could not be traced".